By Bridget Cook
THE action didn’t stop after the final race at the TAB Cranbourne Cup on Sunday, with international singing sensation Gabriella Cilmi performing live on stage.
Gabriella, who grew up in Dandenong, performed for about an hour at the cup – her first ever Australian concert.
Crowds packed the lawn in front of the stage and sang and danced away to some of her hit songs including ‘Sweet About Me,’ and ‘On a Mission’.
Gabriella also performed the national anthem prior to the feature race, the TAB Cranbourne Cup.
The performance was fitting in more the one way. Her latest album is also called ‘Ten’, and the cup fell on the 10th of the 10th month, 2010.
Gabriella also celebrated her 19th birthday on the day, and the crowd all sang ‘happy birthday’ to her after the concert, led by her band members.
Gabriella has won six ARIA award including Best Female, Best Album and Single of the Year.
While she grew up in Dandenong, Gabriella now lives in London. She became known internationally for her soulful song ‘Sweet About Me’, which sold more than two million copies, was top 10 in 16 countries, spent 37 consecutive weeks in the UK single chart in 2008 and was viewed over 20 million times on YouTube.
Her album ‘Lessons To Be Learned’ went top 10 in 12 countries, notching up close to a million sales.
Music download business Guvera presented Gabriella, along with Country Racing Victoria and the Cranbourne Turf Club.
Right: Gabriella Cilmiperformed a one-hour concert at the TAB Cranbourne Cup. 54548Picture: Kim Cartmell
